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Two Short Catechisms Two Short Catechisms Author(s): Owen, John (1616-1683) Publisher: Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library Description: These two catechisms function as two levels of explanation of the theology John Owen taught to his church. The lesser catechism is intended for the children of his congregation. It is in a question and answer format, with questions ranging from "Is there but one God?" to "What is the Lord©s Supper?" The greater catechism is also in Q and A form, but goes into much more depth on a larger range of topics. Owen dis- cusses the Trinity, incarnation of Christ, justification, vocation, the sacraments, and many other doctrines, all with extensive Scripture references. Owen, a product of the nonconformist, Congregationalist movement of England, was a staunch professor of faith and a proponent of tolerance and sincerity. These catechisms are the foundation of his theology and are a wonderful source for study. Abby Zwart CCEL Staff Writer Subjects: Christian Denominations Protestantism Post-Reformation Anglican Communion Church of England Creeds and catechisms, etc. i Contents Two Short Catechisms wherein the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ are Unfolded 1 and Explained Prefatory Note 2 The Epistle Dedicatory 3 The Lesser Catechism 5 The Greater Catechism 8 Chapter I — Of the Scripture 9 Chapter II — Of God 10 Chapter III — Of the Holy Trinity 12 Chapter IV — Of the Works of God; and, First, of those that are Internal and 13 Immanent Chapter V — Of the Works of God that outwardly are of Him 15 Chapter VI — Of God’s actual Providence 16 Chapter VII — Of the Law of God 17 Chapter VIII — Of the State of Corrupted Nature 18 Chapter IX — Of the Incarnation of Christ 20 Chapter X — Of the Person of Jesus Christ 21 Chapter XI — Of the Offices of Christ; and, First, of His Kingly 23 Chapter XII — Of Christ’s Priestly Office 24 Chapter XIII — Of Christ’s Prophetical Office 27 Chapter XIV — Of the Two-fold Estate of Christ 28 Chapter XV — Of the Persons to whom the Benefits of Christ’s Offices do belong 29 Chapter XVI — Of the Church 30 Chapter XVII — Of Faith 32 Chapter XVIII — Of our Vocation, or God’s Calling us 33 Chapter XIX — Of Justification 34 Chapter XX — Of Sanctification 35 ii Chapter XXI — Of the Privileges of Believers 37 Chapter XXII — Of the Sacraments of the New Covenant in particulalr, — a holy 39 right whereunto is the Fourth Privilege of Believers Chapter XXIII — Of Baptism 40 Chapter XXIV — Of the Lord’s Supper 41 Chapter XXV — Of the Communion of Saints, — the Fifth Privilege of Believers 43 Chapter XXVI — Of Particular Churches 44 Chapter XXVII — Of the Last Privilege of Believers, — being the Door of Entrance 45 into Glory Indexes 46 Index of Scripture References 47 Index of Pages of the Print Edition 52 iii This PDF file is from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library, www.ccel.org. The mission of the CCEL is to make classic Christian books available to the world. • This book is available in PDF, HTML, ePub, and other formats. See http://www.ccel.org/ccel/owen/catechisms.html. • Discuss this book online at http://www.ccel.org/node/3066. The CCEL makes CDs of classic Christian literature available around the world through the Web and through CDs. We have distributed thousands of such CDs free in developing countries. If you are in a developing country and would like to receive a free CD, please send a request by email to [email protected]. The Christian Classics Ethereal Library is a self supporting non-profit organization at Calvin College. If you wish to give of your time or money to support the CCEL, please visit http://www.ccel.org/give. This PDF file is copyrighted by the Christian Classics Ethereal Library. It may be freely copied for non-commercial purposes as long as it is not modified. All other rights are re- served. Written permission is required for commercial use. iv Two Short Catechisms wherein the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ are¼ Two Short Catechisms wherein the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ are Unfolded and Explained Two Short Catechisms: wherein the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ 463 are unfolded and explained. Proper for all persons to learn before they be admitted to the sacrament of the Lord’s supper; and composed for the use of all congregations in general. “Come, ye children, hearken to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord,” Ps. xxxiv. 11 1 Prefatory Note Prefatory Note Prefatory Note. The first edition of these Catechisms issued from the press in 1645. Dr Owen had at that time the charge of the parish of Fordham in Essex, and laboured diligently for the in- 464 struction and benefit of his flock, by catechising from house to house. The catechisms were prepared in order that he might accomplish these parochial duties with greater efficiency and success. “The Lesser Catechism” is designed for the instruction of children; — “The Greater,” for the examination of persons more advanced in years. They are chiefly doctrinal. It was the intention of Owen to have followed up this little work by another Catechism on the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and some articles of the Creed. This intention, however, was never fulfilled. These Catechisms on “the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ” are included in this volume, — which embodies all the treatises of Owen directly relating to the second Person of the Trinity, — inasmuch as, according to a statement of the author in the preface, they were intended to remind his people of what he had publicly taught them, “especially concerning the person and offices of Christ.” They were among the first, as the other treatises in this volume are among the last, of our author’s publications; and we are thus enabled to mark the undeviating consistency with which, during all the ministrations of his public course, Owen held fast by the great doctrines of the Gospel, — “the unsearchable riches of Christ.” — Ed. 2 The Epistle Dedicatory The Epistle Dedicatory To my Loving Neighbours and Christian Friends. Brethren, My heart’s desire and request unto God for you is, that you may be saved. I say the truth 465 in Christ also, I lie not, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness, and continual sorrow in my heart, for them amongst you who, as yet, walk disorderly, and not as beseemeth the Gospel, little labouring to acquaint themselves with the mystery of godliness; for many walk, of whom I have told you often weeping, and now tell you again with sorrow, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, who mind earthly things. You know, brethren, how I have been amongst you, and in what manner, for these few years past, and how I have kept back nothing (to the utmost of the dispensation to me committed) that was profitable unto you; but have showed you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to all repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, with what sincerity this hath been by me performed, with what issue and success by you received, God the righteous Judge will one day declare; for before him must both you and I appear, to give an account of the dispensation of the glorious Gospel amongst us; — in the meanwhile, the desire of my heart is, to be servant to the least of you in the work of the Lord; and that in any way which I can concede profitable unto you, — either in your persons or your families. Now, amongst my endeavours in this kind, after the ordinance of public preaching the Word, there is not, I conceive, any more needful (as all will grant that know the estate of this place, how taught of late days, how full of grossly ignorant persons) than catechising; which hath caused me to set aside some hours for the compiling of these following, which also I have procured to be printed, merely because the least part of the parish are able to read it in writing; — my intention in them being, principally, to hold out those necessary truths wherein you have been in my preaching more fully instructed. As they are, the use of them I shall briefly present unto you:— 1. The Lesser Catechism may be so learned of the younger sort, that they may be ready to answer to every question thereof. 2. The Greater will call to mind much of what hath been taught you in public, especially concerning the Person and Offices of Jesus Christ. 3. Out of that you may have help to instruct your families in the Lesser, being so framed, for the most part, that a chapter of the one is spent in unfolding a question of the other. 4. The texts of Scripture quoted are diligently to be sought out and pondered, that you may know indeed whether these things are so. 466 5. In reading the Word, you may have light into the meaning of many places, by consid- ering what they are produced to confirm. 3 The Epistle Dedicatory 6. I have been sparing in the doctrine of the Sacraments, because I have already been so frequent in examinations about them. 7. The handling of moral duties I have wholly omitted, because, by God’s assistance, I intend for you a brief explication of the Lord’s Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, with some articles of the Creed, not unfolded in these, by themselves, by the way of question and answer.
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